Combined baffle and heat conserver means



March 26, 1940." v' G. FAULDS 2,195,027

COMBINED BAFFLE AND HEAT CON-SERVER MEANS Filed April 29. 1939 sSheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES:

j I I I I INVENTOR:

Q 6417191: f'aulda ATTORNEYS."

March 26, 1940. G. FAULDS v 2,195,027

COMBINED BAFFLE AND HEAT CONSERVER MEANS Filed April 29, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: fizorye f'aulds,

A TTORNEYS.

March 26, 1940. G. FAULDS 2,195,027

COMBINED BAFFLE AND HEAT CONSERVER MEANS I Filed April 29, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 17.

a r \IS A INVENTOR: fieorye Tani/d5,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mai-. 26, 1940 v UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE COMBINED RAFFLEAND HEA'r'ooNsi'invpn I l MEANS g George Eaulds, PhiladelphimPa." V

Application April 29,1939, Serial No. 270,756

vs Claims. (01. 1 587)' This invention has reference to heating in.- 7

thermal units are concentrated and enter the flue before expanding theirfull effect with resultant waste, while the wall of the combustionchamber I is subjected to zonal burning and premature deterioration,whereas the general thermo-conductivity is only in part efiective.

The primary object of this invention is to-ob viate the notedundesirable features by provision 20 of an improved refractory and heatconserving means preferably; although not essentially, de-

vised for service in gas fired heaters whereby; the.

' flame is efiiciently distributed'within the combustion chamberconfines in a manner more .conducive to well distributed usage of allthe generated thermal units before they can attain the outlet or flue ofsaid chamber..

Another object is to'provide a thoroughly emcient bafile and heatconserver means having a novel type of crown withdifferentiallyedisposable' series of annularly-overlapping bafllesfunctional I to variably whorl the flow of heated air and.

flame about the upper region of the combustion chamber.

With the above recited and subsidiary objects, as'well as ancillaryadvantages, in-view this in vention consists in the constructivefeatures, coin-v binations and arrangements of parts whereby thecontemplated "objects are attained, as hereby the accompanying sheets ofexplanatory drawings, and more-particularly defined in the coneludingclaims. I

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a broken vertical section through a gas-fired domestic heaterembodying one practical form of the present invention.

Fig. II is a horizontal section'on'the plane designated IIII in thepreceding'illustration.

Fig. III is a "similar section on the plane III-IIIof I, but drawnto alarger scale.

V FigIV is a perspective view showing two interengageablecomponents,includable in the combined bafile and heat conserver meanshof thisinvention.

inafter more fully disclosed; typically illustrated joining unit, I.

when the respective units 1 are assembled'to form Fig. V is a broken topplan view of the baflie and heat conserver crownias hereinafter morefully described. I Fig. VI is a fragmentarysectional view takenapproximately on the plane VI--VI in Fig. V, I

with two reversely-pitched'bafile blades applied thereto, said sectionbeing drawn to a larger scale for purposes of clearness.

I Fig VII is aperspective view of an air-choke member, thepurpose ofwhich will be hereinafter v fully disclosed.

Fig. VIII is a perspectiveIview of a juncturepiece later onclearlyexplained, I

IX is a fragmentary sectional view of a slightly modified formof theinvention. is

Fig. X is a horizontalsection onthe plane -XXin Fig.1X. V v f Fig. XI isa fragmentary plan view of a different type of crownan'd bladearrangementusable with either form of the baffle and heat conservershownIin-Figs. I andIX.

Fig. XII is a section, taken approximately on the plane XIIX[I in-Fig.XI; and,

Fig. XIII'is a perspective view of one, of th crown-blades hereinafterfully described. 5

7 Referring more indetail to the drawings and firstly to Figs. I-VIIinclusive, a conventional form of heater structure is comprehensivelydesignated I and preferably'comprising a standard type of gas control2,:with a ring burner 3 in the a lower. part .of the combustionchamber-4, and a pilot 5; while 'the burner 3 includes an annular cuppedrefractory bafile support 6: all of said parts being in accordance withprevailing practice and merely referred to herein for the purv pose ofbetter explaining the present improvemerits.- I In accordance with theinstant invention instead of mounting a flaring type ofrefractorymaterial baffle in the cupped support 6, as herea tofore, useis made of an annular cast iron b aille preferably comprisingcorresponding sectoral units 1 which, when assembled, provide aninverted hollow frusto-conical structure 8'. Each. unit I, as bestunderstood from Fig. IV, is of arcual transverse contour with aninternal flange 9 .at the lower edge for seating in the cupped sup-portfi, and an upper flange or outer rim l0 around the top'edge, as Well asa rib or tongue I l along one of the-straight edges l2 with a .com-

plernental groove [3 in the'other straight edge l2, "for reception. ofthe tongue ll, of an ad- 'Ihus it will be apparent that the-structure 8the respective tongues H and accommodate different radial locations ofthe grooves l3 will interengage and substantially close the jointsformed by the abutting straight of each unit for coaction with aninterengage able corresponding apertured tongue IS on the other side ofan adjoining unit 1, so that when the said units 1 are brought intoabutting relation a headed drop-pin may be inserted in the largerdiameter registering apertures l8 of said lugs I5 and tongue l6, to holdthem against dislodgment in use and from relative separation underexpansion and contraction influences. A

suitable opening such as H! may be provided in,

Or cut-out from, one of the bafile units 1 to pilot 5, and associatedigniter means not shown, relative to the axis of the ring burner 3, forfitment with an appropriate shield 20, in accordance 7 with knownpractice, to prevent draft throughthe baffie structure 8 fromblowing-out againstrelative movement, as well as afi'ording substantialsupport for thecrown .22, and also tial flange portions 26 having spacedconcentric ribs 21, 28, 29, for instance, with, intervening arcual slots30, and axial aperture-forming central parts 3|. half portions 25include an annularly arranged series of spaced holes 32withcommunicating radially-directed outwardly-diminishing. grooves 33,the function whereof will later on set forth. Or, as shown in Figs. XIand XIIthe crown, 22 may embody a perimetric rib 29, radial slots 34,and annularly-arranged spaced arcual projec- }tions or lugs 35, in placeof the inner ribs 21,

28, and intervening arcual slots 30 of Figs. V and VI.

In order to check the airdraft through the baffle structure 8, aconcavo-convex truncate- ,shapedphoke device 36, having an axial opening36 and a series of flow-distributing apertures 3! therethrough, maybeseated on the arcual flange i4; and fitting on the crown central part 3|is an appropriate waterback 38 having inlet and outlet serviceconnections 39, 4!], respectively. j

Bafile devices or blades 4| 4|, are disposed around the crown 22 inedge-overlapping relation to induce rotary turbulence of the heated airand products of, combustion in the upper part of the chamber 4; and inorder to augment efiective distribution, the respective annular seriesof such blades 4|, 4|, are preferably relatively reversed. In otherWords, the outer ring of the bafileblades 4| may all be angularlypitched water-back 38, for domestic purposes.

In addition, the concave-convex to direct the rising heated air andflame upwards under rotary action for example, and thepartially-overlapping inner series 4| reversely Pitched to deflect saidheated air downwards under similar action whereby the aggregate amountof such heated air passing through and above the crown 22 is locallyconcentrated around the water-back 38 with increased thermal efliciency,While better circulation of hot water throughout the system served bythe heater is attained as well as quicker heating of the p In order tovary the arrangement of'theseries of baflie blades, 4|; the former forexample are inp dividually provided with a grooved arcual-section foot42 adapted to fit on the outer crown-rib 29; while it is to be noted theinner ribs 21, 28

being of difierential curvature are radially reduced in width orthickness so that the foot section groove 43 will also engage. thereon.In practice the arcual curvature or sectoral dimension ofthe arcual,groove 43 is'proportioned to fit the rib 29, and also of such dimensionsradially and ourvilinearly that when applied to the rib.2'|', the radialend edges thereof will impinge said latter rib, and when engaged on theintermediate rib 28 rest loosely thereon, in an obvious manner. In someinstances, and preferably to better differentiate the bafiie blades 4|,4|, the latter series may be formedwith solid foot pieces 44, Figs. VIand XIII having shouldered somewhat rectangular projections 45 arrangedto engage in the arcual slots 3|], said projections being of appropriatecross-section crosswise or transversely to prevent pivotal movement,when inserted into the slots 36. On the other hand the' baffie blades 4|of Figs: XI and XII have their foot pieces 44 provided with rectangularor other shaped apertures 46 for coaction with the lugs 35 to likewiseprevent pivotal movement thereof.

- Referring now to Figs. VIII-X inclusive it will be observed that theupper portion of the baiiie units I are provided with fish-tailprojections 41 that define intervening recesses or openings-48 when thecrown 22 is seated thereon; also that use is made of the inverted L-shaped juncture-pieces 24, instead of the spacer locks 2| hereinbeforereferred to.

In operation of the baiile structure 8 of this invention, the annularflame ascending from the burner 3 vvill heat said structure "to a highdegree of 'incandescence whereby the entrained upward flow of combustionsupporting air within and without such structure will be rapidly raisedin temperature and, by influence of the Choke device36, prevented fromtoo free passage through the crown 22, with the result that theatmosphere in the lower portion of the combustion chamber 4 is thermallyintensified and abetter circulation of water through the heater jacket49 and back 38 attained. In addition the thermal effect of the burnerflame will be annularly directed around the inner wall 58 of the Waterjacket 49, from the lower region upwards, until it attains the outer andinner series .of arcual slots 30 through which the choked flow willpartially pass to the bafile blades 4|, 4| for annular reverse whorlingdistribution within the combustion chamber 4 uppermost region, beforedischarge by way of the flue opening 5|. simultaneous with the actionjustdescribed the other portion of the heated air and flame will, underthe up-draft action within the structure 8, be drawn radially inwardsthrough [1 the arcual openings 28, or 48 below the: crown '12, andcommingling with the intensely heated air passing out of the chokeaperture 36 and flow-distributing apertures 31 becomethermallyintensified before axial concentration by the-radial grooves 33 forpassage out of the annular series of holes 32 against the water-back 38.

rterengaged sectoral units, each said unit embodying a tongue lengthwiseof one radial edge,

and a complemental groove in the other radial edge, said tongue andgroove serving when the units are assembled in edge abutting relation toclose the joints thereat, means for detachably securing the units inassembled relation, a crown "for the truncate structure having asurrounding .Qflange with projections and intervening aper--;-.:tures,and edge-overlapping baflie blades adapted for coaction withsaid projections to define reversely-pitched annular flow passagestherethrough.

2. A combined baflle and heat conserver means comprising a hollowfrusto-conioal structure of interengaged sectoral units each said unitembodying a 'basal flange and an impel-peripheral rim with a tongue 1lengthwise of one straight edge and a complemental groove in the otherstraight edge, said tongues and grooves serving when the units areassembled in edge abutment v to close the joints thereat, means fordetachably securing the units together, a crown for the .irusto-conicalstructure having a surrounding .ffiange embodying a peripheral rib and'spacially related inner projections with intervening apery tures, andedge-overlapping bafile blades having :.ioot pieces adapted for coactionwith the .rib, -;'projections and slots, to define reversely pitchedannular flow passages'through and about the crown aforesaid.

3. Acombined ballieand heat conserver means comprising a hollowirusto-conical structure of 'interengaged sectoral units, each said unitembodying a basal flange and an upper peripheral rim with a tonguelengthwise of one straight edge and a complemental groove in the otherstraight edge, said tongues and grooves serving 3 when the units areassembled in edge abutment to close the joints thereat, spacer blocksadapted to seat over the top part of the structure joints deflnedby theabutting units, spaced apertured lugs and an apertured tongue inwardlyof each unit arranged for mutual registrationwiththose of the adjoiningunits, a freely-fitting drop pin 'insertable in the apertures of therespectively registering lugs and tongues for detachably serelation, acrown for the frusto-conical structure having a surrounding flangeembodying peripheral and inwardly spaced concentric projections withintervening apertures, and edge-overlapping baflle bladesembodying footpieces adapted ,for coaction with th e peripheral and concentricprojections to define reversely-pitched annular v flowpassages throughand about the crown aforesaid; f

fcuring'the structure forming units in assembled 4. A combined bafileand heat conserver means as defined in claim 3 wherein each of thefrustoconical structure units is formed with an in-- wardly directedbasal flange and an outward rim at the top, each said unit being furthercharacterized by an inner arcual flange intervening the top'and bottom,said flanges being located in a common plane when the frusto-conicalstructure'is assembled, and an inverted disked choke havingacentralorifice with an annular series of spaced-'flow-distributingapertures seated onsaid common plane flanges. d

5. A combined baffle and heat conserver me'ans as defined in claim 3wherein each frusto-conical structure unit is provided around the upperrim portion with spacedfish-tail projections defining intervening arcualrecesses, and the spacer blocks are of inverted L-shaped formation.

6. A combined battle and heat conserver means as defined in claim 3wherein the crown is made in complemental halves withfa surroundingflange embodying a peripheral rim and inner concentrically arranged.annularly spaced projections, radial slots intervening said flange andprojections, and'baffle blades, having foot portions with suitableapertures for coactionwith the projections to prevent pivotal movementthereof. f

W7. A combined baflle and heat conserver as defined in claim 3 whereinsome of the bafiies have foot portions with arcual grooves therein a forsnug engagement around the crown peripheral rib and the concentricprojections are. of

- relatively reduced radial'widthfor reception of correspondinglygrooved bailles.

8. A combined bafile and heat conserver as defined in claim 3,characterized by inner baffles having foot pieces with relativelyreduced lower end projections for seating in the crown flange apertures.i GEORGE FAULDS.

